BICYCLE PEDALING FORCE DETECTOR

• US 20160216169A1
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: MORI, Shintarou, TETSUKA, Toshio, YOSHIDA, Fumiaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,581,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/412 Speed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/421 at the pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/00 Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 25/003 for measuring torque
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/161 using variations in ohmic resistance

Abstract

A bicycle pedaling force detector is basically provided with that basically includes a first sensor circuit, a wireless communicator and a first electrical connection member, The first sensor circuit is coupled to a first housing that is configured to be mounted to a crank assembly. The wireless communicator is coupled to a second housing that is configured to be detachably mounted to a crank assembly. The second housing is a separate member from the first housing. The first electrical connection member is configured to electrically connect the wireless communicator and the first sensor circuit.

Claims

1. A bicycle pedaling force detector for a bicycle comprising:

a sensor circuit disposed in a housing that is configured to be mounted to a crank assembly;

a wireless communicator disposed in a housing that is configured to be detachably mounted to the crank assembly, the housing of the wireless communicator being a separate member from the housing of the sensor circuit; and

an electrical connection member configured to extend through an inside space of the crank assembly and electrically connect the wireless communicator and the sensor circuit.

2. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1, wherein

the crank assembly includes a first crank arm.

3. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, wherein

the sensor circuit is configured to be mounted to the crank arm.

4. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, wherein

the wireless communicator is configured to be detachably mounted to the crank arm.

5. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, wherein

the sensor circuit is configured to be mounted outside of the crank arm.

6. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, wherein

the sensor circuit is configured to be mounted inside of the crank arm.

7. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, further comprising

a plurality of strain sensors;

and

the strain sensors are fixed to the crank arm, and arc electrically connected to the sensor circuit.

8. The bicycle pedaling three detector according to claim 2, wherein

the crank arm includes a fixing structure;

and

the housing of the wireless communicator is configured to be detachably attached to the fixing structure.

9. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, further comprising

a plurality of strain sensors;

and

the strain sensors are fixed to an exterior of the crank arm, and are electrically connected to the sensor circuit.

10. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, further comprising

a plurality of strain sensors fixed to an interior of the crank arm, and electrically connected to the sensor circuit.

11. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, wherein

the electrical connection member includes an electrical wire, and

the crank arm includes a hole with the electrical wire at least partially disposed in the hole.

12. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 11, wherein

the electrical connection member further includes a first connector and a second connector;

the first connector is mounted on the crank arm;

the second connector is mounted on the wireless communicator; and

the second connector is detachably connected to the first connector when the wireless communicator is detachably mounted to the crank arm.

13. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2, further comprising

an additional sensor circuit;

and

an additional electrical connection member electrically connecting the wireless communicator and the second sensor circuit;

the crank assembly further includes an additional crank arm, and a crankshaft connected to the crank arms;

one of the sensor circuits being fixed to one of the crank arms and the other of the sensor circuits being fixed to the other of the crank arms.

14. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor circuit includes an amplifier circuit and a calculation circuit.

15. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor circuit is configured to be permanently mounted to the crank assembly.

16. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1, wherein

the housing of the wireless communicator further includes a battery receiving structure.

17. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1, further comprising

a cadence sensor attached to one of the housing of the sensor circuit and the housing of the wireless communicator.

18. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 17, wherein

the cadence sensor is mounted to the housing of the sensor circuit.

19. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 18, wherein

the cadence sensor is mounted to the housing of the wireless communicator.